Christophe Vardiel scored 14 points to lead four double-figure scorers for Florida Gulf Coast in a 71-61 win over South Carolina Upstate Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Sun tournament.
The Eagles (14-16) shot 53.3 percent in the second half in rallying from a 27-21 halftime deficit.
Florida Gulf Coast trailed 35-34 with 15:38 remaining and scored eight straight. The Eagles scored six points off two turnovers during the spurt, capped by Sherwood Brown's 3 with 13:51 to play.
The third-seeded Spartans (20-12) committed seven of their 13 turnovers in the second half.
Brown finished with 12 points, Filip Cvjeticanin 11 and Bernard Thompson and Eddie Murray 10 each for the Eagles.
Sixth-seeded Florida Gulf Coast, which snapped a three-game skid, would lead by no less than five the rest of the way, and plays Mercer in the semifinals Friday.
Adrian Rodgers led the Spartans with 16 points.
